Cloth package transfer mechanism



l.. F. REMINGTON ETAL 3,276,605

CLOTH PACKAGE TRANSFER MECHANISM Oct. 4, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l Filed oct. 15, 1964 www L Nw@ mmhlhfmwr l Ibm-mmmwulwwwwmmmm TF m NAT Oct. 4, 1966 L.. F. REMINGTON ETAL 3,276,605

CLOTH PACKAGE TRANSFER lMEC'IAUSM 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. l5, 1964 QNO I Oct. 4, 1966 L.. F. REMINGTON ETAL 3,276,605

CLOTH PACKAGE TRANSFER MECHANISM 5 Sheets-Sheen*l 5 Filed 001,. 15, 1964 HOV so. VA LV1: f

UHT

To TOLDER 2 i j L 02; m E M E w T u HA 5 .n V M w R N @QT m T fly M4 L .wlw rnWvoJ OU E1 Tl V| M VI Vfw 5 United States Patent() 3,276,605 CLOTH PACKAGE TRANSFER MECHANISM Leland F. Remington,-Worcester, and Robert G. Skillin, Holden, Mass., assignors to Curtis & Marble Machine Co., Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed ct. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 404,143 7 Claims. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to textile folding machines in particular but .also to any such textile machine to which the invention may be applicable, and the principal object of the invention resides in the provision ofpower operated means for transferring a heavy package of cloth from one position to another, as from the folding machine to an out of the way location, so as to take the burden of lifting from the operator `of the machine and also to speed up the operation thereof.

To this end the machine comprises in general conventional apparatus for processing the web, as for instance a folding machine, in combination with a novel transfer v table which is moved by power to the front of the machine at the operators normal position, where access to the package of cloth is provided, further in combination with pusher means for automatically and by power removing the cloth package from the conventionalmachine where it rests on a platform (from which, in the prior art, it had to be removed manually by the operator) onto' the new transfer t-able, whereupon in timed sequence the transfer table is automatically retracted from the front of the machine so that the roperator may immediately thereafter resume his position to service and operate the machine as heretofore.

It will be seen that this invention provides a very convenient power operated device for transferring the cloth package without burdening the operator. Since it is the general tendency of modern machinery to operate with greater speed than heretofore, it is apparent that it is advantageous to avoid taking time out for the operator to manually lift a heavy package of cloth from the folding or other machine, carry it to a support atleast ya few feet away, and then return to the machine. The new invention avoids a great burden on the operator and speeds up the operationI of the` machine while at thesame time preserving the package of cloth in its original neatly folded condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will apf pear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which: t

FIG. l is a view in side elevation illustrating the machine and the operation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a section on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;,

FIG. 3 is -a partial view in elevation showing the folding table and switch looking in the direction of arrow 3 in FIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a view partly in section showing the transfer table operating switches;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the foot switch;

FIG. 6 shows an electric circuit with relation to the folding table, and

FIG. 7 shows an electric circuit with relation to the transfer table.

Referring now to FIGS. l and 2 there is shown a general framework 10 of any desired description which may be that of a conventional cloth folding machine. This machine is provided with generally conventional cloth folding mechanism including the motor M, reducing gear 12 operated thereby, operating link 14, folding lever 16 and the folding mechanism in general is illustrated at 18. The cloth web is shown at 20 and is supplied in the usual manner to the folding mechanism 18 which recip- Mice rocates as indicated in FIG. 1 between the jaw members which are located at 22 and 24, all more or less as is well known in the prior art.

There is a folding table which is indicated by the reference numeral 26 and this has uppermost and lowermost positions as shown respectively in solid and dotted lines, and it will be appreciated that as the folding operation progresses the table will gradually descend from its uppermost position to the lowermost position to accommodate the folded cloth package which is indicated at 28. In FIG. l this cloth package however is shown in the act of being transferred from the folding table to the transfer table 3G. The transfer table has a retracted position shown in solid lines and the advanced position shown in dotted lines, and in the advanced position it receives the cloth package 28 as is clearly shown in FIG. l.

A fluid cylinder 32 is provided for raising and lowering the folding table. This cylinder i-s conveniently mounted on a horizontal pivot 34`and extends generally vertically but in a rockable manner. It has a piston with a stem 36 and a pair of links 38 and 40 pivoted to the folding table so as to quickly and conveniently raise and lower the same.

The transfer table '30 is provided with a power cylinder or the like 42 which is conveniently arranged intermediate the ends thereof in a transverse direction and this is provided with a piston with a stem thereon as at 44 for moving the transfer table 30 between the solid and dotted line positions as shown in FIG. l. The top of the transfer table at 46 is arranged to be substantially coplanar with the folding table 26 when it is in its lowermost position although it will be seen that for purposes of smoothness of operation it is actually located slightly below the s-ame. The transfer table 30 is conveniently traveled on rails 48 and mounted as by the wheels 50 or in any other way which may be convenient.

There is a ram indicated at 52. This ram may be mounted on Wheels or the like 54 to move between extreme dotted line positions as shown in FIG. 1 to push the cloth package 28 as indicated from the folding table to the transfer table. This ram has a forward portion of a height sufficient to engage the major portion of the height of the package and has a length sufficient to engage the major portion of the length thereof. It is operated by a stem 5-6 under influence of a piston and the ram cylinder 58 which is mounted on the framework 10 in Ia convenient location.

The operator usually stands in frontvof the machine on a platform 60. The platform 60 is pivoted at 64, 64 to side rails 66 extending out from the folder and is suspended by springs 68. When the operator stands on the platform 60 it swings on pivots 64 downward toengage a normally closed limit switch 86 to open the sarne as will be described later, so that the transfer table 30 cannot accidentally be energized to move towar-d the operator. There is provided a foot switch 72 in reach of the operator when standing on platform 60 to move the folding table up and down independently of the cycle of operations to be described, so that the operator can position the table where desired.

There is a panel with four switches on it indicated at 74. This switch plate and switches are located at the side of the machine so that the operator must stand at the side of the machine and out of the range of the reciproca't-ion of the transfer table when he is desired to transfer a package out -of the folding machine. These four switches are for moving the transfer table forward, moving transfer table in reverse, moving the folding table up, and moving the folding table down.

Referring now to FIG. 6 this shows an electric diagram for moving the folding table up and down, and the purpose is to control air cylinder 32 yby means of the foot switch 72. The reference numeral 76 indicates a solenoid which is operated by the foot switch either up and down according to how the foot switch is operated as at 78 and 80 to control the valve 82 to the air cylinder to move the table 26 up and down at the will of the operator.

FIG. 7` shows the electric circuit for the operation of the transfer table. At 84 there is shown a switch which is closed by the folding table when in its lowest position, closing the circuit to allow operation of the transfer table. As the operator is not standing on the platform the switch 86 is also closed. When switch 92 is closed the solenoid 90 is energized, thus causing the transfer` table cylinder to move the transfer table to the folder as shown by the dotted lines in FIG. 1. At this point the transfer table actuates limit switch 96 which actuates solenoid 98. The ram cylinder then moves the package off the folder table onto the transfer table.

To retract both transfer table and ram the operator closes switch 94 which de-energizes solenoid 98 and energizes solenoids 88 and 100.

There are also limit switches and safety switches provided and if the transfer table is not in its complete reverse position, a switch at 102 will stop the folding machine and cause the folder to be inoperative, after the completion of the forward or reverse cycle of the table 30.

When the operator wishes to transfer the package of cloth from the platform 26 to the transfer table 30, he first presses the switch 72 to lower the folding table to its lowermost position, which closes switch 84, an-d then he presses the switch 92 which starts the transfer tab-le moving from the solid line to the dotted line position. The transfer table hits a switch as at 96 and this starts the ram 52 in operation so that at the point when the transfer table has reached its dotted line position in FIG. 1 the package starts to be unloaded onto it. The operator then presses the switch 94 which starts the ram in reverse and the table in reverse. It will be seen that the folding table has to be in its downwardmost position prior to operation of the transfer table to any degree as indicated by switch 84 and conversely if for any reason the transfer table is moved forwardly, the folder operation will stop, this being due to switch 102.

It will therefore be seen that every safety factor possible has been applied to this machine so that the operator cannot be injured but at the same time an extremely convenient cloth package transfer device is provided which is relatively simple Iand easy to operate and which removes the heavy burden from the operator of lifting the cloth package and moving it to an out of the way position so that he can once more start up the folding machinery. Once the package is on the transfer table, i.e., in retracted position as shown in solid lines, the package can then be removed either by the operator while the folding machine is performing its normal function or =by another operator whose duty it may be to provide this service.

Having thus described our invention and the advantages thereof, we do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, -otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but whatwe claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, means providing a cloth package, means supporting the cloth package, a transfer table receiving the cloth package from said supporting means, means ejecting the cloth package from its supporting means onto the transfer table, said transfer table having an inoperative position at a point removed from said cloth package supporting means, and means for moving the table into juxtaposition with said supporting means for receiving the cloth package, the means for moving said transfer table and the means for ejecting the cloth package including means for operating the same in timed relation to each other, whereby the cloth package is ejected only when the transfer table is in juxtaposition with relation to the means supporting the cloth package, means positively preventing operation of said transfer table and said cloth package ejection means at any time when the operator is located between the transfer table and the cloth package supporting means, said means including a movable platform for the operator and an actuator held normally open by the weight of the operator but closing upon the release from the platform of the weight of the operator.

2. The combination with a cloth folding machine which includes a cloth package receiving table and means to move said table vertically downwardly as the cloth folds on it, said table having a downwardmost position when loaded by the `cloth package, of a pusher element, means for moving the element in a direction to push the cloth package from said cloth table to a position generally external to said cloth folding machine, and a transfer table, said transfer table having two different horizontal positions, an advanced position in juxtaposition to the cloth table in the downwardmost position thereof for receiving the cloth package therefrom as it is pushed by said element; and a retracted position remote from, the cloth table, .and means for moving said transfer table between its two posi-tions, the operator standing normally between the folding machine and the transfer table in the retracted position of the latter to tend the former, and means located between Ithe transfer table and the folding machine to interdict the motion of the transfer table, said llast-named means being in an area for yoperation thereof by the operator as he tends the folding machine.

3. The combination of claim 2 including means to operate the pusher element and the transfer table in proper timed relationship so that the cloth package is pushed from the cloth table when the transfer table is in the advanced position only thereof and the cloth table is only in its downwardmost position.

4. T'he combination of claim 2 wherein the transfer table interdicting means includes means controlled by the weight -of the operator.

5. The combination of claim 2 wherein the transfer table interdicting means includes a depressible platform on lwhich the operator stands to operate the cloth folding machine, and a cutoff switch which is normally closed but is opened by depression of the platform `by the operators weight to interdict operation Iof the transfer table as long as the oper-ator is on the platform.

6. The combination of claim 2 including a foot switch located in position for the operator to move the cloth table vertically to its downwardmost position, and control means at the side of the machine for initiating the transfer table and the pusher element from the side of the machine only.

7. The combination of claim 2 wherein the cloth package pusher element and the transfer table move in directions toward each other to push the cloth package onto the transfer table in advance position of the latter, and away from each other to move the cloth package away from the cloth folding machine, and the cloth package pushing mechanism out of the way, for the formation of a succeeding cloth package in the cloth package folding machine.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,508,698 5/1950 Von Beren 214-1 X 2,653,812 9/1953 Cohn 270-79 2,752,050 6/ 1956 Nordquist 214-6 2,774,489 V12/1956 Guigas 214-85 X 2,956,381 10/1960 Chauvin 214-6 X 3,129,825 4/1964 Lamb 214-6 3,150,578 9/1964 Dale 93-93 MARVIN A, CHAMPION, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A MACHINE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED, MEANS PROVIDING A CLOTH PACKAGE, MEANS SUPPORTING THE CLOTH PACKAGE, A TRANSFER TABLE RECEIVING THE CLOTH PACKAGE FROM SAID SUPPORTING MEANS, MEANS EJECTING THE CLOTH PACKAGE FROM ITS SUPPORTING MEANS ONTO THE TRANSFER TABLE, SAID TRANSFER TABLE HAVING AN INOPERATIVE POSITION AT A POINT REMOVED FROM SAID CLOTH PACKAGE SUPPORTING MEANS, AND MEANS FOR MOVING THE TABLE INTO JUXTAPOSITION WITH SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR RECEIVING THE CLOTH PACKAGE, THE MEANS FOR MOVING SAID TRANSFER TABLE AND THE MEANS FOR EJECTING THE CLOTH PACKAGE INCLUDING MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SAME IN TIMED RELATION TO EACH OTHER, WHEREBY THE CLOTH PACKAGE IS EJECTED ONLY WHEN THE TRANSFER TABLE IN JUXTAPOSITION WITH RELATION TO THE MEANS SUPPORTING THE CLOTH PACKAGE, MEANS POSITIVELY PREVENTING OPERATION OF SAID TRANSFER TABLE AND SAID CLOTH PACKAGE EJECTION MEANS AT ANY TIME WHEN THE OPERATOR IS LOCATED BETWEEN THE TRANSFER TABLE AND THE CLOTH PACKAGE SUPPORTING MEANS, SAID MEANS INCLUDING A MOVABLE PLATFORM FOR THE OPERATOR AND AN ACTUATOR HELD NORMALLY OPEN BY THE WEIGHT OF THE OPERATOR BUT CLOSING UPON THE RELEASE FROM THE PLATFORM OF THE WEIGHT OF THE OPERATOR. 